[at-l] Purell vs. Poison Ivy-Now Soapy Water Stuff!

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

I think the soapy water discussion just spread out a bit; as to small
amounts of hiker wash water dumped on the ground away from streams, I
think that is ok as long as one walks a good distance from his/her
campsite/shelter, slings the stuff in a wide arc to minimize
concentration, and does not have any significant quantities of leftover
food in with the water [leftover food should be an AT oxymoronic
phrase!].  However, on the larger, human watershed scale, soapy water is
a HUGE water quality issue.  Prior to banning phosphates in laundry
detergent, phosphates in soaps were a significant contributor to
eutrophication in many watersheds.  Phosphate bans have done wonders to
reduce phosphorous contributions, but of course much work remains to be
done in reducing nutrient inputs [nitrogen and phosphorous] from
so-called "non-point" source runoff, and the more newly emergent issue
of atmospheric deposition.  In rural areas in eastern NC, so-called
"gray water" discharges [i.e., straight piping one's washing machine
into the nearest ditch or swamp or stream to avoid overloading an old
septic system] remains a non-trivial problem . . . 

Ain't it amazin how a post about slinging a bit of Dr. Bronner's around
the AT can cover such ground [water]? :)

thru-thinker

DTimm65344@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I've been doing environmental work for almost 20 years and I haven't come
> across any evidence that soapy water is a big deal except mass dosing of
> phosphates in small sole-source drinking water bodies (easily dissipated and
> converted in the bigger, wider wonderful world).  Phosphates on the land
> fertilize over time.  I suspect if there is evidence of harm out there, it's
> deeply entrenched in stealth mode or somebody would have trotted it out by
> now.  Air deposition of goodies into waterbodies is the real issue (Great
> Lakes initiative, Gulf Coast watershed study, etc.).
> 
> Black&blue
> 
> In a message dated 02/20/02 10:56:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> ellen@clinic.net writes:
> 
> > I have asked again and again on this and other lists for some scientific
> > reference that suggests soapy water deposited away from streams does any
> > harm.
> > I'm still waiting.
> 
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